Children’s computer use
at school is that they are forming bad ergonomic
habits that will set them up for later workplace
injuries. If computer technologies become ubiquitous
across the curriculum from preschool on up—
as the No Child Left Behind Act and current educational
technology standards envision55—Hedge
says that children are likely to suffer not just pain
but actual injury unless action is taken to prevent
it (Alliances for Childhood 26).
Ergonomic experts Alan Hedge of Cornell University
and Karen Jacobs of Boston University cite the
Risk of repetitive stress injuries to children
and adolescents from poor posture and long sessions
staring at screens; punching keys on computers,
laptops, handhelds, and cell phones; or hitting the
“fire” button repeatedly on video games (Alliances for Childhood 26).
This resluts in about
40 percent of middle-school students
reporting musculoskeletal pain related to using
computers (Alliances for Childhood 26).
Laptops are more of a problem ergonomically, he
adds, because the screen and keyboard are attached.
That makes it difficult to have each in a healthy
position. Laptops also add more pounds to students’
already too-heavy backpacks, which are a growing
health concern (Alliances for Childhood 26).
Jacobs strongly recommends that parents and
teachers make sure students take physically active
breaks from keyboards or video games every 20
minutes, that they learn to check their chairs and
screen height each time, and adjust them if necessary,
and that they be taught the proper position for
typing to avoid strain (Alliances for Childhood 26).
Alliances for Chilhood (2004). Tech Tonic: Towards a New Literacy of Technology. College Park, Maryland. Alliance for Childhood.
Children and Physically Harmful Technology....
By: Brian Berrodin and Andrea DillardChildren’s computer use
at school is that they are forming bad ergonomic
habits that will set them up for later workplace
injuries. If computer technologies become ubiquitous
across the curriculum from preschool on up—
as the No Child Left Behind Act and current educational
technology standards envision55—Hedge
says that children are likely to suffer not just pain
but actual injury unless action is taken to prevent
it (Alliances for Childhood 26).
Ergonomic experts Alan Hedge of Cornell University
and Karen Jacobs of Boston University cite the
Risk of repetitive stress injuries to children
and adolescents from poor posture and long sessions
staring at screens; punching keys on computers,
laptops, handhelds, and cell phones; or hitting the
“fire” button repeatedly on video games (Alliances for Childhood 26).
This resluts in about
40 percent of middle-school students
reporting musculoskeletal pain related to using
computers (Alliances for Childhood 26).
Laptops are more of a problem ergonomically, he
adds, because the screen and keyboard are attached.
That makes it difficult to have each in a healthy
position. Laptops also add more pounds to students’
already too-heavy backpacks, which are a growing
health concern (Alliances for Childhood 26).
Jacobs strongly recommends that parents and
teachers make sure students take physically active
breaks from keyboards or video games every 20
minutes, that they learn to check their chairs and
screen height each time, and adjust them if necessary,
and that they be taught the proper position for
typing to avoid strain (Alliances for Childhood 26).
Alliances for Chilhood (2004). Tech Tonic: Towards a New Literacy of Technology. College Park, Maryland. Alliance for Childhood.